Sports Media & Communications is brand-new to the 2025 school year and is a liberal arts major designed to prepare students for a variety of sports careers. Students can choose between journalism, broadcast or strategic communications in sports.

Sports Media & Communications, or SMC for short, is a newly offered major and minor through the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. 

The major is the result of years of work. Assistant teaching professor Beth Haag initially had the idea for the major and proved its potential popularity by helping to create the sports media club.

Principles of Sports Media and Communication with Professor Thames

“I know it’s over a hundred, I believe it’s probably somewhere around 130, could be 140,” sports media and communications assistant professor and sports media professional Terrence Thames said.

The number of students who joined the new major is just over 100, which is about four times more than Greenlee originally anticipated.

His knowledge of the subject and passion for sports media, combined with his ability to educate students, make his class incredibly engaging and insightful, especially for those who already have a passion for sports.

“I think when people have a genuine interest in the subject matter, they’re going to be more likely to succeed or more likely to have staying power,” Thames said. “I think that sports in general cover so many things, and if you mix that in with other interests in your life, people will be more interested.” 

Thames’ passion can shine as well. Learning from someone who loves what they’re doing allows students a better learning environment and more engaging study. 

“I get to teach on something that I know intimately, and something that I feel is very unique to me,” Thames said. “I think being able to put into others what I have received, and also what I’m still receiving, is very, very, very exciting.”

The SMC major also opens doors for many different career paths, whether that be sideline reporting, sports journalism or even marketing; there’s something in there for almost any career.

“Oh man, the sky is the limit,” Thames said. “Of course, you have people who are involved in journalism, sideline reporters, regular reporters, production producers. But also, you have people who are involved in PR, people who are in marketing. You have people who can innovate on top of what the jobs are. Sales, directing production inside arenas, working in live productions, graphics, replays, producing and directing. But yes, all those things are there.”

The SMC major also surrounds you with professionals who have partaken in professional careers around sports media, bringing in guest speakers who have worked in almost any sport you can imagine. Allowing students to be around and connect with people who know what they’re doing and how to get into specific career fields. 

But what if you love sports but aren’t sure about if you should switch to an SMC major or minor? As Thames puts it, “I say come on.” 

Thames also said if you’re passionate about sports and telling stories, this might be the field of study for you.

“I believe that you can come to a place where you can learn from amazing professionals, and you can also grow,” Thames said.

Sports Broadcast Production with Professor McNab

Sports Broadcast Production, SMC 3520, is a more advanced class with only 14 students, taught by assistant teaching professor James McNab and provides students with a hands-on approach to learning about sports production.

SMC 3520 produces a bi-weekly high school recap and highlight show titled Prep Sports Central, but the primary focus and possible surprise of it is that it is entirely student-run and the entire class is responsible for conceiving, capturing and delivering content for the show. 

From the hosts to the cameramen and women, McNab is only in there for help and to initially teach the basics. 

“I’m gonna push, but you’re gonna ultimately be responsible for the success of this show,” McNab said.

In the first two shows in the 2025 fall semester so far, the students are actively working to improve the show, especially the students who have never done any type of video production. 

With a course that prioritizes a student-first and hands-on learning approach, students are left equipping skills that each student can use upon graduation.

“There is not a single skill being taught in the class or being used in the class or the production of the show that is not transferable to some other aspect of the industry,” McNab said.

It’s not just McNab saying this as well; take it from a student in his class. 

“You get to expand on a lot of different skills, such as shooting video, editing and interviewing,” senior in sports media and communication Lucas Thompson said. “You also get chances to do live production skills like audio, producing, directing, teleprompter, camera work and more.”

This course also allows students to have freedom and work outside of the classroom. The class isn’t just done inside a classroom or a lecture hall, but students are actively going out to high school games and doing boots on the ground coverage. 

Prep School Central has even advanced to focusing on stories and events that are not just in the Des Moines metro area; students are going out to small towns and schools within the state of Iowa to cover teams and people that would not normally be featured.

“My favorite part is going out and filming all these different high school sports and watching games that are not usually covered in the mainstream media,” sophomore sports media and communication major Holden Schirmer said.

Student feedback has also shown a push for and recommendations for more broadcasting courses. Multiple students expressed that they would absolutely love to have more classes of this style and that if they could do this class again, they would. 

“This is what the school needs,” senior in journalism and mass communication Nicholas Harmon said. “Greenlee needs to focus more on broadcasting. I know it’s what I want to do, and I would guess more people feel the same way. This class is a needed step and should be celebrated.”

“The only thing keeping you from joining is yourself,” junior sports media and communication major Gabe Ploeger said. “There’s no point in not trying it if you’re interested because it is such a great experience.”